AMA President to visit New Zealand
Federal President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), Dr Kerryn Phelps, will visit New Zealand from Thursday 22 November 2001 to Tuesday 27 November 2001.
Dr Phelps will attend the joint meeting of the New Zealand and Australian Medical Councils in Wellington on Friday 23 November; the AGM of the Australian Medical Council in Wellington on Saturday; meet with politicians and NZ medical groups (including the Maori Medical Practitioners Association) on Monday; and will address the Board of the New Zealand Medical Association on Tuesday 27 November before returning to Australia.
Key issues to be discussed during the visit include aged care, medical workforce and financing (particularly GPs), health funding, public hospitals, medical indemnity, privacy, and quality and safety initiatives.
Dr Kerryn Phelps was elected to the office of AMA Federal President in May 2000, and re-elected (unopposed) in 2001. She is the first woman to hold this position.
Dr Phelps is a General Practitioner who has worked in General Practice for the last 16 years.
Dr Phelps has been involved in medical politics over the last six years. In 1999, she held the office of AMA NSW President, only the second woman in 120 years to hold this position.
For the last ten years, Dr Phelps has been the Health Editor for Channel Nine's Today Show and the Health Writer for The Australian Women's Weekly. She has been an Australia Day Ambassador since 1995.
Dr Phelps is available for interview throughout her visit to New Zealand. To arrange an interview, please contact the media officers listed below.
CONTACT:
Australia: Sarah Crichton (AMA) (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076
New Zealand: Shani Naylor (NZMA) (04) 472 4741 / (025) 284 1081